Oct 10, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong is surrounded by his players after the game against the Oklahoma Sooners during the Red River rivalry at Cotton Bowl Stadium. Texas won 24-17. Photo Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Former Texas coach Charlie Strong has agreed to become the next head coach at South Florida, according to reports Sunday.
Strong was fired by the Longhorns after going 16-21 in three seasons. Texas went 5-7 in 2016.
Strong, 56, met with USF officials in Tampa on Friday and Saturday after having preliminary conversations by phone with school officials earlier in the week, according to ESPN’s Chris Low. Strong agreed to a five-year deal, ESPN reported.
Strong will replace Willie Taggart, who accepted the Oregon head-coaching job on Wednesday.
USF went 10-2 this season and will face South Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 29.
Strong and Taggart had discussions about the USF job over the weekend, a source told ESPN. Taggart was one of several coaches who had interest in Strong as a defensive coordinator.
Part of Strong’s decision-making process involved deciding whether to immediately take another top coaching position or accept a job as a defensive coordinator. The Longhorns reportedly owe Strong $10 million over the next two seasons.
Strong’s reputation as a defensive guru reached its zenith when he was defensive coordinator of two national championship teams (2006, 2008) at Florida under Urban Meyer.
Strong became head coach at Louisville prior to the 2010 season and compiled a 37-15 record in four years, including a 12-1 mark in 2013 before leaving for Texas.
